Just thought I'd share my observations over these past few days.

But, first, Tenex, I'm still confused. The black o-ring that is the gasket for the secondary basket at the pump location, and which I was told should be replaced each season (and lubed regularly) only cost a couple of bucks. I thought that gaskets suffer wear that the eye cannot see, and so we replace them. In that you mention "15 or 20" (meaning bucks), I'm wondering if I'm not on the same page? I admit, while I can replace a rotted fence post, paint my entire house, put down an acrylic stain on my deck concrete, technical I am surely not, so I wouldn't be surprised if I am just not comprehending.

I did some experiments, and I have concluded--at least I'm fairly certain--that my pressure gauge simply isn't working. I can turn the pump off after running properly for hours, and it doesn't drop back back down to zero, remaining stuck at 15 or 20 or 10 (virtually, wherever it "decided" to be at the moment). I can turn the pump off then on immediately, and it would sit at zero, but maybe a half hour later it would be at 15, or 20, then later, perhaps slip down to 10. Since I don't really rely on the gauge to backwash--since I know my pool and how clean I keep it and that I don't have to backwash but once or twice a season--I'm guessing I haven't paid attention to it much this summer and hence didn't notice. I do know that not removing it during the winter when we do have a dozen times or so when it dips below freezing likely did it in as it always does, and I just forgot.

Another experiment: Instead of turning my pump on in the morning when the temperature's in the low-to-mid 70's, I turned it on at noon (for 4 hours) when it's in the high 80's and in direct sun. No groaning of the pump, interestingly enough -- none whatsoever! I did this three days in a row, and it hummed immediately just like it should. Would see a couple of bubbles in the basket but then poof! and they were gone, having gotten full prime.

Then this morning, I turned the pump on at 7:00 a.m. when it was about 66 degrees out. It groaned. A half hour later, when I got back from walking the dogs, it was humming like it should.

I can't help but wonder, as Tenex suggested, if this problem is related to bearings? I'm thinking it's not a self-priming thing, STS, because it appears to get prime immediately? And me, not being technical, have no idea if the bearings are in the motor or in the casing to the motor. I know, it's pitiful. Us girls just weren't taught these kinds of things growing up.

I do know that the motor is in it's second season is all, and that the groaning started last winter when it was cold. It does strike me as intriguing that it groans for a matter of minutes when it's a mere 72 degrees outside but not when it's in the full heat of the day.

I don't have the same service I used last year to install the new motor (they went out of business), but I did call a pool service in the area, and they're $85 an hour. So it could cost me a $100-$200 to have a guy disassemble things in investigation. In that the pump is running like it should, priming like it should, and everything else seems to be going as it should, I'm thinking of not concerning myself with the groaning of my motor. Maybe something was not quite right with the new motor in the first place, bearings or otherwise, but as long as it works...?

Now, onto yet another noise. There is an audible sound, but only if you're standing right next to the multiport, of a little rattling inside the multiport. Alas, can I ignore this as well? I haven't a clue what that might be.